CARROLLTON, Ga. – The UWG softball team fell in both games of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader on Saturday, losing twice to fourth-ranked Valdosta State at University Field.
 
The ball was flying out of the yard on Saturday as the Wolves and Blazers combined for 11 home runs on the day, with UWG slugging six of them. West Georgia (11-23, 4-15 GSC) nearly came back to upset the Blazers in the opener, falling 6-5 with the tying run on second base. The Valdosta State (26-5, 18-1 GSC) offense exploded in game two, knocking off the Wolves, 14-6.
 
Game One
Macy Ann McKnight pitched admirably in the opener, keeping the Blazer offense guessing for much of the game, and giving up just six hits over seven innings of work. VSU took advantage of a walk and a hit batter to push two runs across in the first inning.
 
After VSU added a third run in the fourth inning, Emma Bailey put UWG on the board with a solo home run, making it a 3-1 game.
 
The big blow for the Blazers came in the fifth as Katie Proctor hit a two-run shot to cap off a three-run inning, extended the Blazers' lead to 3-1.
 
Senior centerfielder Hannah Scarbrough slugged a fifth-inning home run to to make it a 6-2 game, and then in the sixth, UWG mounted a comeback to cut the deficit to just one run.
 
The sixth started with back-to-back singles from Kristyn Nix and Alley Taylor, with Nix scoring on Taylor's single after moving to second on a wild pitch. R.J. Janke then hit a monstrous two-run shot to make it a 6-5 game.
 
In the final frame, UWG got a leadoff single from Maddie Gorsuch and got the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt before back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and the game.
 
Each of the top four in the UWG batting order got a hit while Scarbrough registered the only multi-hit game.
 
McKnight struck out four in her seven innings of work, while walking three.
 
Game Two
There was more offense to come in game two as the contest's first seven runs were scored via the long ball. Taylor Lewis of VSU got it started with a second inning solo homer, but in the bottom half, the Wolves got home runs from Gorsuch and Nix to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Valdosta State's Ally Clegg and Nikki Pennington gave VSU the lead back for good with a solo shot and a two-run homer that made it 4-3, Blazers. VSU ended the third with an eight spot, opening up the 9-3 lead.
 
Janke hit her second home run of the afternoon in the fourth, slugging a three-run home run to cut the deficit in half at 9-6.
 
A five spot in the fifth put the Blazers up by eight, and a perfect bottom half would end the game after five innings.
 
Nix and Janke each had two hits, combining for four of the Wolves' seven hits in the contest.
 
Kaley Dowdy started the game for the Wolves and was charged with the loss, while Morgan Hill came in relief for VSU and got the win.
 
Notable Numbers
- Kristyn Nix extended her hitting streak to 17 games, which is the longest hit streak by a UWG player since at least 2010.
- Janke's two-home runs now gives her nine on the season, and her team-high RBI total is up to 29. She entered the weekend with a .441 average which led the GSC, and her average climbed five points on Saturday to .446.
- Hannah Scarbrough's home run in game one was the 10^th of her career and the first she has ever hit at home in her four-year UWG career.
- Emma Bailey's home run was her third of the season, and Gorsuch hit her third as well, giving her four in her career. 
- The two losses give Valdosta State the series win and the win in the first year of the Red Clay Rivalry. The two schools entered the weekend with Valdosta State leading the series 5-2. One point goes to the winner of the series in baseball and softball and 11 sports are a part of the rivalry. 

Up Next
The Wolves and Blazers square off once again tomorrow at 12 p.m. at University Field for the series finale.